

I have never had a bad Santa experience.
I know a story about someone who poured catsup over a red coat on his door step and then fired a shotgun on Christmas Even. He shouted, "Go away you old bastard."
His kids shouted, "Daddy, Daddy, you shot Santa Claus!"
That is pretty mean. The guy who did this was a friend of my father. I knew the fellow's son. We took French in the same class.
My father had a high school classmate (class of 1935) who was a retired Marine Corps officer. He had a full white beard. He rebuilt wheelchairs for inprovident victims of illness. His job was to train people to portray Santa in stores. At a reunion, he ruled the day. Everyone, including retired cancer researchers, surgeons, and generals, found him delightful.
I never had a problem with Santa, but I endured a nightmare about that damm Easter Bunny. I do not know why I had a bad dream about the EB. I loved Bugs Bunny.
Santa used to wear green (and sometimes blue). Coca-Cola changed his color to red.
I am a late shopper. I prefer shopping on Christmas Eve to shopping the day after Thanksgiving. I never see Santa on Christmas Eve. By that time, he is already on the road.
Alan Jaffe, the founder of Preservation Hall, used to walk around the Vieux Carre in New Orleans during Advent. Alan would dress as Santa and play his tuba. He was delightful.
Even in New Orleans, I have not, to my knowledge, encountered a cross-dressing Santa, but what a great idea!



